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Monday, August 01, 2016

Illinois Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor

A Springfield, Illinois, man was sentenced today to serve
132 months in prison for attempted enticement of a minor, announced Assistant
Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal
Division and U.S. Attorney Jim Lewis of the Central District of Illinois.

Jeffrey Parkhurst, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge
Colin S. Bruce of the Central District of Illinois, who also ordered him to
serve a 15 year term of supervised release.Parkhurst was convicted by a federal jury on March 31, 2016.

During the trial, the government presented evidence to
establish that Parkhurst knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice an
individual who he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity
using the internet and a cell phone.In
addition, the government also presented evidence to establish that between
January and July of 2015, Parkhurst posted over 60 online advertisements in an
effort topersuade, induce and entice an
individual who he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Parkhurst was arrested on July 27, 2015, in Decatur,
Illinois, and initially charged by state authorities.He has remained in custody since his
arrest.The defendant was remanded to
the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on Sept. 18, 2015.

The Decatur Police Department and U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case in
cooperation with the Macon County, Illinois, State’s Attorney.Trial Attorney Elly Peirson of the Criminal
Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.